Before anything else, April will tell you this about her home: “It’s my safe space.”
Today, she and her 14-year-old son have a peaceful home of their own — a quiet place to rest, recharge, and prepare for what’s next. For her son, it’s a solid place to grow and get ready for high school. For April, it’s the foundation that allowed her to grow and focus on new goals.
But that stability didn’t come overnight. Not long ago, April was juggling a full-time job, school, and parenting, all while living in an apartment that had become unlivable. Rodent infestations and rising rent made it hard to justify staying. She moved in with her mother temporarily, but that wasn’t sustainable either.
A friend suggested she reach out for housing support, which conflicted April.
“I wasn’t trying to go into no shelter,” she said. “But trying to find an apartment, working, finishing my bachelor’s became a lot and I realized I needed more help.”
More help came when April connected with Community of Hope through the Rapid Re-housing Program and was paired with her case manager, Heather. With Heather’s support, April settled into her own apartment.
“If I don’t want to be bothered, I don’t have to be bothered,” she said.
But housing was just the beginning. April successfully completed her bachelor’s degree and is now pursuing a Master’s degree in Counseling at Trinity Washington University. She’s also working full-time as a family engagement specialist.
“I didn’t think I was going back to school,” she said. “But God had other plans.”
She began a financial wellness journey too, connecting with a financial coach through Community of Hope.
“Trying to fix my finances on my own wasn’t working,” she said. “Heather helped me get connected. Now that’s one of my biggest goals is to get financially stable so I can own a home.”
April has always been honest about the challenges. She faced high rent, uncertainty, and the hard work of asking for help without shame.
She credits Community of Hope not just for providing a place to live, but for helping her rebuild her life step by step.
“Ask for help before it’s too late,” she said. “Build your village. Don’t wait until you feel like you’ve hit a wall. There are people ready to help you just like they helped me.”
Read April’s Night of Hope remarks below
When you are a mom in DC raising a teenage son, safety is always on your mind. Not too long ago, I was working full-time, in school, raising my son, and still the apartment we lived in became unlivable. The rent went up. The rodents took over.
Eventually, I had to leave. I moved in with my mother for a while, but that was not sustainable. I was exhausted, overwhelmed, and running out of options.
That is when I connected with Community of Hope through the Rapid Re-housing Program. With my case manager, Heather, I finally moved into an apartment of my own. For the first time in years, I could close a door behind me and know: this space is mine. I could breathe. My son could rest.
And with that stability, everything began to open up. I finished my bachelor’s degree. Today, I am working full-time as a family engagement specialist and pursuing my master’s in counseling at Trinity Washington University. I have even started a financial wellness journey, because my next goal is to become a homeowner.
But I carry two truths with me. One: I finally feel like I’m getting my life back on track and I’m proud my son can witness it. Two: I am still a mom raising a Black son in DC, where safety is never guaranteed. And I know how it all could have been different if I had not had the chance that Community of Hope gave me.
That is why it worries me when I hear about cuts to programs like Rapid Re-housing. I know there are families tonight who just need the same opportunity I had: to get housed, to go to school, to find better work, and to show up for their children. Families who deserve the chance to rebuild.
And it is not just housing. I also relied on Medicaid and other support to keep us healthy. I know firsthand how important these resources are in helping you get back on track. Without them, it is not just harder. For many families, it is impossible. Stability in housing, health care, and wellness all go hand in hand. They make communities safer. Take one away, and the whole foundation shakes.
I’m happy I get to stand here as an example of how things can go—a success story. But I also am looking around and knowing that there is still so much that needs to happen—and can—if there are more Heathers in the world.
I am living proof of what your support of Community of Hope makes possible. And I believe every family deserves that same chance. Through it all, I’ve lived by one simple truth: Stay positive, keep the faith, and trust God.
Thank you.
